Despite it being general knowledge that smoking causes serious health issues, every year tobacco consumption kills more than 9,00,000 people. According to the World Health Organization report, India comes second to China in terms of adult smokers which is equivalent to 106 million. At regular intervals, the government takes necessary action to stop smoking but there is no sure outcome.

Philip Morris International Inc. was planning to launch the iQOS smoking device, otherwise called (an electronic cigarette) in India. But on 28 August 2018, the Indian federal health ministry halted their sales and imports due to the health risks involved.

Philip Morris stated that the pen-like iQOS only heats and does not burn tobacco. Smoke is not generated; instead it produces nicotine-containing vapor, which is comparatively less harmful. But the ministry denied their response by saying, “[iQOS] are a great health risk to public at large, especially to children, adolescents, pregnant women and women of reproductive age”.

Last year, a public interest litigation was filed in the Delhi High Court regarding the regulation of e-cigarettes. The court in turn asked the federal health ministry to do the needful at the earliest.

For the time-being, the Indian government raised cigarette taxes, ordered tobacco companies to print health warnings on packs and introduce a quit-smoking helpline.